Device for Locating Tournament Players

ABSTRACT

A player locating device for a golf tournament includes a listing of tee off times for a plurality of golf holes for the tournament. From a list of players on the device, a user finds a starting tee off time and a starting golf hole for a given player that the user wishes to locate at the tournament. Using a moveable element, which can be a slider or a dial on the device, the user aligns the player&#39;s starting golf hole listed on the moveable element with the starting tee off time listed on the device. Then, the user finds the current time during the tournament on the device and reads the number of the aligned golf hole listed on the moveable element to determine which hole the player is currently playing in the tournament.

FIELD OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

The subject matter of the present disclosure relates to a device forlocating players at a tournament.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

Unlike most sporting events that have a “kick-off” or other distinctbeginning, professional golf tournaments have multiple “tee-off times”for each pairing or group of professional golfers in the tournament.Currently, pairing sheets are available for golfing fans at thetournament. The pairing sheets show the starting tee-off times for eachpairing or group of golfers. Newspapers may also provide the startingtee-off times for the golfers. Golfing fans may arrive at the tournamentthroughout the day and may have an interest in seeing only some of theprofessional golfers. Unfortunately, the pairing sheets do not enablethe golfing fan to locate where a desired golfer is located on thecourse throughout the tournament. Therefore, a need exists to helpgolfing fans locate particular golfers in a tournament during varioustimes of the day.

The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to overcoming,or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems setforth above.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

A player locating device for a golf tournament or other such eventincludes a listing of starting tee-off times for a plurality of golfholes of the tournament. From a list of players on the device, a userfinds a starting tee-off time and a starting golf hole for a givenplayer that the user wishes to locate at the tournament. Using amoveable element, which can be a slider or a dial on the device, theuser aligns the player's starting golf hole listed on the moveableelement with the starting tee-off time listed on the device. Then, theuser finds the current time on the device and reads the number of thealigned golf hole listed on the moveable element to determine which holethe player is currently playing in the tournament.

The foregoing summary is not intended to summarize each potentialembodiment or every aspect of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, preferred embodiments, and other aspects ofsubject matter of the present disclosure will be best understood withreference to a detailed description of specific embodiments, whichfollows, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGS. 1A-1B illustrate an embodiment of a device for locating players ata tournament throughout various times.

FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate another embodiment of a device for locatingplayers at a tournament throughout various times.

FIG. 2C illustrates a pairing sheet.

While the disclosed device for locating players at a tournament issusceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specificembodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawingsand are herein described in detail. The figures and written descriptionare not intended to limit the scope of the inventive concepts in anymanner. Rather, the figures and written description are provided toillustrate the inventive concepts to a person skilled in the art byreference to particular embodiments, as required by 35 U.S.C. § 112.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1A-1B, an embodiment of a device 10 for locatingplayers or golfers at a tournament or other such event throughoutvarious times is illustrated. The device 10 includes a card or sheet 12having a front side 14 shown in FIG. 1A and having a reverse side 15shown in FIG. 1B. As shown on the front side 14 of FIG. 1A, the device10 includes a pairing section 20, a time section 30, one side of amovable element 40, and directions 18. As shown on the reverse side 15of FIG. 1B, the device 10 similarly includes a pairing section 20, atime section 30, and another side of the movable element 40. Becausethese sides 14 and 15 are substantially similar, the various sectionsand elements in FIGS. 1A-1B are given the same reference numerals forconvenience.

The pairing section 20 shows the various parings 22 of golfers for thetournament next to their starting “tee-off” times in the time column 32of the time section 30. In the present example, the pairings 22 on thefront side 14 of FIG. 1A are for those players teeing-off at thestarting location 24 of the number one tee for the particular day of thetournament for which the device 10 has been made. The pairings 22 on thereverse side 15 of FIG. 1B are for those players teeing-off at thestarting location 25 of the number ten tee for the particular day of thetournament.

The movable element 40 is a slider and is movable within a slot 16formed in the device 10. One side of the slider 40 is visible on thefront side 14 of the device 10, as shown in FIG. 1A. Similarly, anotherside of the slider 40 is visible on the reverse side 15 of the device10, as shown in FIG. 1B. The sides of the slider 40 have columns 42 and44 listing the locations (i.e., holes or tees) of the golf course.Because the pairings 22 on the front side 14 of FIG. 1A tee-off from thestarting location 24 of the number one tee, the first hole in column 42on the slider 40 shows an arrow for aligning with a starting tee-offtime in the time column 32 that corresponds to the adjacent pairing 22in the pairing section 20. Contrariwise, because the pairings 22 on thereverse side 15 of FIG. 1B tee-off from the starting location 25 of thenumber ten tee, the tenth hole in column 42 on the slider 40 shows anarrow for aligning with a starting tee-off time in the time column 32that corresponds to the adjacent pairing 22.

The device 10 can be conveniently given out to golfing fans arriving atthe tournament. Using the device 10, the golfing fans can find where aparticular golfer is likely located on the course at various timesduring the tournament. To use the device 10, a user moves the arrow onthe slider 40 to the start time in time column 32 for the particulargolfer in the pairings 22 that they wish to locate. This can be done forthe golfers starting from the starting location 24 of number one tee onthe front side 14 of FIG. 1A or for the golfers starting from thestarting location 25 of the number ten tee on the reverse side 15 ofFIG. 1B. For example, the user in FIG. 1A has aligned the arrow for thenumber one tee with the paring 22 having the golfers of Campbell, Perez,and Palmer, who had a starting tee-off time of 9:15 a.m. from the numberone tee.

Then, the user finds the current time on either column 32 or 34 of thetime section 30 to find the current hole in column 42 or 44 on theslider 40 that the desired golfer is likely located. For example, if thecurrent time is 12:15 p.m., the user can determine that the paring 22 ofCampbell, Perez, and Palmer, who teed-off at 9:15 a.m. from the numberone tee, is likely located at the thirteenth hole or tee of the course.In a similar fashion, the user can operate the slider 40 on the reverseside 15 of the device 10 to find the current hole of any of the pairings22 who teed-off from the number ten tee on the given day.

In some situations, course or weather delays may have changed thestarting tee-off times for the pairings 22 in the tournament. To accountfor such changes, the user can add the time delay to the startingtee-off time of the pairing 22 they wish to locate and can then use thedevice 10 as before to locate the pairing 22 at the current time. Forexample, if there was a weather delay of 30 minutes delaying thestarting tee-off time, the user wishing to located the pairing 22 ofPelt, Sanden, Bryan in FIG. 1A would align the arrow on the slider 40not to the original tee-off time of 8:45 a.m. but instead to the tee-offtime of 9:15 a.m. Then, the user can find the current time (e.g., 12:15p.m.) to determine that the pairing 22 of Pelt, Sanden, Bryan is likelylocated at the thirteenth hole or tee of the course instead of thefifteenth hole.

Alternatively, any course or time delay in the starting tee-off timescould instead be subtracted at the end of the determination. Forexample, if there was a weather delay of 30 minutes in the startingtee-off time, the user wishing to located the pairing 22 of Campbell,Perez, Palmer could still align the arrow on the slider 40 with thepairing's original tee-off time of 9:15 a.m., as shown in FIG. 1A. Then,the user can find the current time (e.g., 12:15 p.m.) and subtract theweather delay of 30 minutes to determine that the pairing 22 ofCampbell, Perez, Palmer is likely located at the eleventh hole or tee ofthe course instead of the thirteenth hole.

In the present embodiment, the pairings 22 in the pairing section 20have starting tee-off times at fifteen-minute intervals. It will beappreciated that a given tournament or other such event may havedifferent times of play so that the pairing section 20 and time section30 for a given tournament can be set up according to the predeterminedtime interval for that particular tournament. The hole columns 42 and 44on the slider 40 can be similarly configured to align with the timeinterval of the tournament so that the numbers for the holes in columns42 and 44 can align with the times in the time columns 32 and 34.

For example, a given tournament may have starting tee-off times at everytwenty minutes so that each pairing 22 may play each hole inapproximately twenty minutes. In this example, then the time columns 32and 34 in the time section 30 would be divided into twenty-minuteintervals for each hour, and the pairings 22 in the pairing section 20would be aligned with the twenty-minute interval that represents thatpairing's starting tee-off time. Of course, the measure or time of playis usually known or predetermined for a golf course so that the device10 can be properly configured for the course and size of the pairings 22for a given implementation.

Referring to FIGS. 2A-2B, another embodiment of a device 50 for locatingplayers or golfers during a tournament is illustrated. The device 50includes a card or sheet 52 having a front side 54 shown in FIG. 2A andhaving a reverse side 55 shown in FIG. 2B. As shown on the front side 54in FIG. 5A, the device 50 includes a time section 60, a movable element70, and directions 58. The time section 60 is arranged as times of aclock with a plurality of first predetermined intervals 62, which areevery ten minutes in the present embodiment.

The movable element 70 is a dial and is rotatable about an attachment orrivet point 71 on the device 50. The dial 70 has a plurality oflocations 72 representing the holes of the tournament. The holes 72 arearranged at every 5-degrees about the dial 70 so that the holes 72 arealignable with the times 62 in the time section 60. The holes 72 on thedial 70 are listed from the number one tee all the way through thenumber eighteen tee and further through the number nine tee.

As shown on the reverse side 55 in FIG. 2B, the device 50 similarlyincludes a time section 65, a movable element 75, and directions 59. Thetime section 65 is arranged as times of a clock with a plurality ofsecond predetermined intervals 67, which are every eight minutes in thepresent embodiment. The movable element 75 is a dial and is rotatableabout an attachment or rivet point 76 on the device 50, which can be thesame rivet used on the front side 54 of FIG. 2A. The dial 75 has aplurality of locations 77 representing the holes of the tournament. Theholes 77 are arranged at every 4-degrees about the dial 75 so that theholes 77 are alignable with the times 67 in the time section 65. Theholes 77 on the dial 75 are listed from the number one tee all the waythrough the number eighteen tee and further through the number nine tee.

The device 50 has a weekday version on front side 54 of FIG. 2A and aweekend version on reverse side 55 of FIG. 2B with different timeintervals on the time sections 60 and 65 and different locationdivisions on the dials 70 and 75. Lacking pairing information, thedevice 50 in the present embodiment is made to “stand alone.” In thisway, the device 50 is generic and can be used in conjunction withalready available pairing information of a tournament. Consequently, theplayer locating device 50 can be used on multiple days of a tournamentand can used at different tournaments since it is not restricted to anyspecific pairings.

Pairings during a weekday of a tournament, such as on Thursday andFriday, usually have three players per pairing and have tee-off times atten-minute intervals. Accordingly, the front side 54 of the device 50 inFIG. 2A is configured to locate pairings for a weekday of a tournament.The time section 60 has time intervals 62 at every ten-minutes, whichcorresponds to the usual tee-off separation for each pairing of threeplayers during a weekday of a tournament. Pairings during a weekend of atournament, such as on Saturday and Sunday, usually have two players perpairing and have tee-off times at eight-minute intervals. Accordingly,the reverse side 55 of the device 50 in FIG. 2B is configured to locatepairings for a weekend day of a tournament. The time section 65 has timeintervals 67 at every eight-minutes, which corresponds to the usualtee-off separation for each pairing of two players during a weekend dayof a tournament.

To use the device 50, the user refers to available pairing information,such as shown on pairing sheet 80 of FIG. 2C. The pairing sheet 80 hasstarting tee-off times 82 and pairings 84 of golfers. As shown byheading 86, this example of pairing information is for a weekday of atournament (e.g., Friday) and shows the tee-off times for the threemember parings from the number one tee. To locate a player, the userfinds the starting tee-off time 82 of the player's pairing 84 that theywish to locate. Then, based on whether it is a weekday or a weekend, theuser determines what version or side 54 or 55 of the device 50 in FIGS.2A-2B to use, which in the present example is the weekday version on thefront side 54 of FIG. 2A. The user rotates the dial 70 on the front side54 to align the hole 72 for the pairing's starting location 86 (e.g.,the number one tee) with the starting time 62 for the pairing. Forexample, for the first pairing 84 having the starting time of 7 a.m. atthe starting location 86 of the number one tee shown in FIG. 2C, theuser aligns the number one hole 72 on the dial 70 of FIG. 2A with thetime 62 of 7 a.m. on the front side 54. Next, the user finds the currenttime of day in the time section 60 and finds the current hole 72 for theselected pairing on the dial 70. For example, if the current time isabout 8:10 a.m., then the selected pairing, which started at the numberone tee at 7 a.m., is likely located at the number eight tee of thecourse. Again, the user adds or subtracts any weather or course delaysthat may have occurred.

Although the embodiment of the device 50 in FIGS. 2A-2B lacks pairinginformation on the device 50, an alternative embodiment of the device 50can include a pairing section directly on the device 50. For example,one embodiment of the device 50 can include dial 70 on the front side 54and can include a pairing section on the reverse side 55 of the card 52instead of including the second dial 75 and time section 65. In anotherembodiment of the device 50, pairing information (i.e., the names ofmembers in a pairing) can be listed directly adjacent the pairing'sstart time 62 in the time section 60 on the device 50.

Although the embodiment of the player locating device 10 disclosed inFIGS. 1A through 1B includes pairing sections showing daily tee offinformation for pairings at a tournament, it will be appreciated thatthe device 10 can also lack such daily tee off information for pairingsat the tournament so that the device 10 of FIGS. 1A-1B can “stand alone”and be used in conjunction with available pairing information.

Embodiments of the player locating devices disclosed herein can be sizedto fit into a shirt pocket. Alternatively, embodiments of the playerlocating devices disclosed herein can include a string so that a usercan wear the device in a manner similar to how golf fans wear theirdaily tickets. Because the player locating devices disclosed herein canbe given to attendees of a tournament, embodiments of the playerlocating devices disclosed herein can also include advertisinginformation printed on available space of the devices. In yet anotheralternative, embodiments of the player locating devices disclosed hereincan be set up in a kiosk or on a display board at the various entrancesof a tournament. The kiosk or display board can include a large-scalephysical version or a computer touch screen version of the discloseddevice for use by attendees. For example, a large-scale physical versionof the embodiment of the locating device in FIG. 2A can be installed ona display board.

Although the embodiments of the player locating devices disclosed hereinhave been directed to locating golfers at a golf tournament, it will beappreciated with the benefit of the present disclosure that that thedisclosed devices can be used for various tournaments and events. Forexample, the disclosed devices can be used for any tournament or eventhaving a plurality of competitors and a sequence of competitions atdifferent locations and at different predetermined times. Some examplesof such tournaments and events include, but are not limited to, golftournaments, tennis tournaments, dance competitions, swimmingcompetitions, gymnastics competitions, bike racing competitions, Olympicevents, weight lifting competitions, etc. Accordingly, the term“tournament” used in the present disclosure and claims can refer to anevent, competition, contest, game, match, etc.

In addition, for a given “tournament,” the term “location” used in thepresent disclosure and claims can refer to a golf hole, a golf tee, anarena, a part of a competition, a leg of a race, etc. Furthermore, for agiven “tournament,” the term “player” used in the present disclosure andclaims can refer to a competitor, a golfer, a tennis player, a dancer, aswimmer, a gymnast, a racer, etc. As evidenced by the time sections 30of FIG. 1A-1B and the time section 60 of FIG. 2A and as also evidencedby the locations listed on the slider 40 of FIGS. 1A-1B and the dial 70of FIG. 2A, the terms “list,” “listing,” and “column” as used in thepresent disclosure and claims should not be construed as referring onlyto a linear arrangement.

The foregoing description of preferred and other embodiments is notintended to limit or restrict the scope or applicability of theinventive concepts conceived of by the Applicant. In exchange fordisclosing the inventive concepts contained herein, the Applicantdesires all patent rights afforded by the appended claims. Therefore, itis intended that the appended claims include all modifications andalterations to the full extent that they come within the scope of thefollowing claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. A player locating device for a tournament, the tournament having aplurality of locations and having predetermined times of play at thelocations, the tournament having a plurality of players, each playerassociated with a starting time of the predetermined times of play andassociated with a starting location of the sequence of locations, thedevice comprising: a time list listing the predetermined times of playfor each location of the tournament; and a location list listing asequence of locations for the tournament, wherein the location list andthe time list are movable relative to one another such that thelocations are alignable with the predetermined times of play, whereinthe starting location in the location list for a given player is movablyalignable with the given player's starting time in the time list, andwherein a current location of the given player at a given time duringthe tournament is determined by the alignment of the predetermined timeof play corresponding to the given time listed on the time list with thealigned location listed on the location list.
 2. The device of claim 1,comprising a moveable element movably attached to the device, themoveable element having the location list and being movable relative tothe time list such that the location list and the time list are movablerelative to one another.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the time listcomprises at least one column listing the predetermined times of playadjacent the moveable element.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein themoveable element comprises at least one column listing the sequence oflocations on the moveable element, each of the listed locations beingalignable with the predetermined times of play listed on the time list.5. The device of claim 2, wherein the moveable element comprises aslider movably positioned in a slot of the device.
 6. The device ofclaim 2, wherein the moveable element comprises a dial rotatablyattached to the device.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein thepredetermined times of play are listed according to a predeterminedinterval in the time list.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein thesequence of locations are listed according to the predetermined intervalin the location list such that the locations are alignable with thepredetermined times of play.
 9. The device of claim 2, furthercomprising: a second time list listing times of play on a reverse sideof the device; and a second side of the moveable element on the reverseside of the device, the second side listing a second sequence oflocations and being movable relative to the second time list.
 10. Thedevice of claim 2, further comprising: a second time list listing timesof play on a reverse side of the device; and a second moveable elementon the reverse side of the device, the second movable element listing asecond sequence of locations and being movable relative to the secondtime list.
 11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a player listlisting the players of the tournament, each player associated with astarting time of play at a starting location.
 12. A player locatingdevice for a tournament, the tournament having a plurality of locationsand having predetermined times of play at the locations, the devicecomprising: a player list listing the players of the tournament, eachplayer associated with a starting time of play at a starting location; atime list listing the predetermined times of play for the locations; anda moveable element movably attached to the device, the moveable elementlisting a sequence of the locations of the tournament and being movablerelative to the time list such that the listed locations are alignablewith the listed times of play, wherein the starting location on themoveable element for a given player is movably alignable with the givenplayer's starting time of play in the time list, and wherein a currentlocation of the given player at a given time during the tournament isdetermined by the alignment of the listed time of play corresponding tothe given time with the aligned location listed on the moveable element.13. The device of claim 12, wherein the time list comprises at least onecolumn listing the times of play adjacent the moveable element.
 14. Thedevice of claim 13, wherein the moveable element comprises at least onecolumn listing the sequence of locations on the moveable element. 15.The device of claim 12, wherein the moveable element comprises a slidermovably positioned in a slot of the device.
 16. The device of claim 12,wherein the moveable element comprises a dial rotatably attached to thedevice.
 17. The device of claim 12, wherein the predetermined times ofplay are listed according to a predetermined interval in the time list.18. The device of claim 17, wherein the sequence of locations are listedaccording to the predetermined interval such that the listed locationsare alignable with the listed times of play.
 19. The device of claim 12,further comprising: a second time list listing times of play on areverse side of the device; and a second side of the moveable element onthe reverse side of the device, the second side listing a secondsequence of locations and being movable relative to the second timelist.
 20. The device of claim 12, wherein the player list comprises: afirst list showing first players at starting times of play from a firstlocation; and a second list showing second players at starting times ofplay from a second location.
 21. A player locating device for atournament, the tournament having a plurality of player, a plurality oflocations, and predetermined times of play at the locations, the devicecomprising: means for associating each player with a starting time and astarting location on the device; means for moving a sequence of thelocations listed on the device relative to predetermined times of playlisted on the device; means for aligning the starting time for a givenplayer with the given player's starting location; and means fordetermining a current location for the given player aligned with thetime of play corresponding to a current time.